The reference guide says projects under the LEED Schools rating system are allowed to exclude playing fields and associated buildings used during sporting events only from their density calculations. Has anyone been able to apply this exception to a higher education, university project pursuing LEED NC Major Renovation? My university project sits on a campus with large areas dedicated to physical education spaces and associated buildings such as sports fields, tennis courts, and concession stands, which have no density and are used only during sporting events.
I've asked the GBCI the same question, and was told the exception was restricted to LEED for Schools. To me the intent of the exception is to avoid penalizing schools for having large open areas for sports. Can anyone help me understand why this wouldn't also apply to a university project?
Kara Strong
Project DirectorSustainable Design Consulting
LEEDuser Expert
31 thumbs up
May 16, 2018 - 11:52 am
Unfortunately, I don't have any insight into the issue. You might consider submitting a LI or CIR that explains that playing fields are associated with higher education projects similar to schools.
Jessica Malta
MCW Consultants LtdOctober 26, 2018 - 5:49 pm
Hi Sara, have you had any update on this?
Thanks.
Sara Goenner Curlee
Sustainability Manager and ArchitectPope Design Group
60 thumbs up
October 29, 2018 - 9:32 am
Hi Susan,
So far, the feedback I've received is consistent with my initial post. The exception is restricted to LEED for Schools projects. I do plan to submit the credit with the area removed and see what happens during an actual review, but haven't gotten to that process yet. Sorry for not being more helpful right now.
Hetvi Vora
BranchPatternMarch 22, 2021 - 12:59 pm
Hi Sara, I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering if you got any pushback from GBCI on submitting this credit without the playing field areas? It'd be great to know as we have a similar issue for a university campus.
Sara Goenner Curlee
Sustainability Manager and ArchitectPope Design Group
60 thumbs up
March 22, 2021 - 5:04 pm
Hi Hetvi - I did go ahead and submit the credit without the field areas, despite the GBCI guidance, and got a "one time exception" from the reviewers which allowed the project to earn the density component of the credit.
Hetvi Vora
BranchPatternMarch 23, 2021 - 6:56 am
Thank you Sara! This helps a lot!
Evelin Champlin
1 thumbs up
March 24, 2021 - 4:30 am
Were there any issues with what you saw in the past? I hope that there are some people who like to see this because it is awesome if you take into account the positives that you can take away from this. I hope that there are people who will not have any issues with this because it is tough to see someone else struggling when there are some solutions to the problem already detailed with this kind of thing. I know that there are some things that we can't really talk about but there are better options when people think.